The cancel culture that is rampant on American college campuses right now has just claimed another victim. A nursing dean at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, has reportedly been fired after saying in an email that “everyone’s life matters.”Where does this end?Addison Smith reports at Campus Reform:
EXCLUSIVE: Dean fired after saying ‘EVERYONE’S LIFE MATTERS’ in emailUniversity of Massachusetts-Lowell Dean of Nursing Leslie Neal-Boylan issued an email on June 2 to the Solomont School of Nursing in light of the recent anti-racism demonstrations across the country, sources told Campus Reform. In the message, Neal-Boylan told students that “everyone’s life matters.” Days later, Neal-Boylan was out of a job.The sources shared with Campus Reform the email over which Neal-Boylan was allegedly fired.“I am writing to express my concern and condemnation of the recent (and past) acts of violence against people of color,” Neal-Boylan wrote in the email. “Recent events recall a tragic history of racism and bias that continue to thrive in this country. I despair for our future as a nation if we do not stand up against violence against anyone,” she added.”Dear SSON Community,” the email provided to Campus Reform begins. “I am writing to express my concern and condemnation of the recent (and past) acts of violence against people of color. Recent events recall a tragic history of racism and bias that continue to thrive in this country. I despair for our future as a nation if we do not stand up against violence against anyone. BLACK LIVES MATTER, but also, EVERYONE’S LIFE MATTERS.”“No one should have to live in fear that they will be targeted for how they look or what they believe,” the provided email continues.
A student who received this email posted the copy on Twitter with a message stating that it was upsetting:
The school responded:
Professor Jonathan Turley of George Washington University has commented on this at his blog:
University spokesperson Christine Gillette issued a statement to the site Campus Reform Wednesday that stated “The university ended the employment of Dr. Neal-Boylan on June 19 after 10 months in her role as dean of the Solomont School of Nursing. As with all such decisions, it was made in the best interest of the university and its students.”What is particularly concerning is a June 19 letter referenced on the site that was allegedly written by Neal-Boylan and sent to Provost Julie Nash. The letter states “It is important to point out that no one ever gave me an opportunity to share my views of how the college and school were interacting nor explain myself regarding the BLM email. My meeting with you, [Dean] Shortie [McKinney], and Lauren Turner was clearly not intended to give me an opportunity to defend my actions. I was condemned without trial.”The statement from the university does not state what specifically is “in the best interest of the university and its students.” However, the failure to specifically state the grounds and the process used to reach the decision is alarming.
In one of the most disturbing aspects of this case, as noted by Professor Turley, if you go to the university’s web page about Dean Leslie Neal Boylan, it is blank. She has already been erased:
Professor Turley reached out to the school for comment and received a vague response:
I contacted the University to confirm (1) whether Dr. Neil-Boylan was fired for her statement about “everyone’s life matters” and (2) whether she was given an opportunity to hear the complaints against her and to contest the allegations.The university responded with this statement:
“Leslie Neal-Boylan’s employment at UMass Lowell ended on June 19, after she was informed she would no longer serve as dean of the Solomont School of Nursing. She had been in that role for 10 months. Although a tenured full faculty member, she declined to join the nursing faculty. As with all such employment decisions, it was made in the best interests of the university and its students. Although we are not able to discuss specifics of a personnel matter, it would be incorrect to assume any statement by Dr. Neal-Boylan was the cause of that decision.”
This suggests that there were other reasons for the termination but, if the letter posted from Dr. Neal-Boylan is accurate, she was not aware of what those reasons might be. If she is unaware of those allegations, this would be a rather Orwellian position where the university protects her privacy by refusing to confirm the basis for her termination even to herself.
Amazingly, other than Campus Reform and Professor Turley, this situation has received virtually no other media attention.
Featured image via YouTube.
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